Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on August 9 that she has not ruled out a 2028 presidential run, leaving open the possibility of a bid for the White House or a Senate challenge against fellow New York Democrat Chuck Schumer. During an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week,” the congresswoman told host Jonathan Karl that she remains open to both paths, saying “anything is possible at this juncture” when asked about a potential Schumer race.
“I haven’t ruled out the possibility, and I’m very humbled to the tremendous amount of support out there,” Ocasio-Cortez said when asked about a July University of New Hampshire poll showing her atop the potential 2028 Democratic presidential primary field in the state with 22 percent support.
The New York representative has become a focal point in 2028 Democratic speculation, particularly as progressive candidates have gained momentum during the second Trump administration. Vice President JD Vance said in a June interview that “it’s got to be AOC” when asked who the leading 2028 Democratic candidate would be. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in July that he was “excited to see what decision she makes” regarding a potential presidential run.
Ocasio-Cortez has consistently emphasized that her ambitions extend beyond electoral office. At a May event in Chicago with Democratic strategist David Axelrod, she stated: “They assume that my ambition is a title or a seat. And my ambition is way bigger than that. My ambition is to change this country.” She reinforced that message on “This Week,” saying “I think that we have a responsibility to remain focused on the midterms and not on our individual aspirations or plans.”
The timing of her remarks coincided with significant progressive victories in recent primary races. Ocasio-Cortez described the current moment as “a time of renewal for the Democratic Party,” citing the success of candidates like Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary over a candidate backed by Schumer and other establishment figures. She argued that new progressive candidates “answer to no master” and are “not beholden to any corporate interest or any party boss,” which she said makes their campaigns “stronger” and allows them to be “responsive to their communities and the people that elected them.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s openness to a 2028 run comes as Harris keeps her 2028 decision open while outlining court-expansion platform, and amid broader speculation about the Democratic field. Her recent work includes reintroducing a $172 billion public housing bill with Sanders, signaling her continued focus on progressive policy priorities regardless of her electoral path.
When asked about her egg-freezing announcement, which she revealed on social media the day before her “This Week” appearance, Ocasio-Cortez tied the decision to reproductive rights under the Trump administration. “In this political environment where this administration is denying reproductive care to women across the country, from abortion rights to the ability to carry out a healthy pregnancy, I think it’s important for us as leaders to have these conversations and share these processes, especially for working women across the country and normalize them,” she said. She noted that she chose to share the decision “to show more depictions of women having full lives in every context and every choice.”
Sources
- USA TODAY — reported AOC’s August 9 “This Week” appearance and statements on 2028 presidential and Senate runs
- Statesman Journal — covered AOC’s interview, including quotes on presidential ambitions, Senate challenge, and reproductive rights
- University of New Hampshire Survey Center — July 2026 poll showing AOC with 22% support in New Hampshire Democratic primary
